It was all about the bike riding
Training Camp
Growing up I never ventured over to Packers training camp for some reason, even though it was just a short bike ride. The interesting and unique part of Packers training camp is the bike riding. When the players come out of the stadium and go to the practice field across Oneida Street, there are kids with their bikes hoping to get a player to ride their bike. The players will choose a kid and either ride the bike with the kid walking aside or riding on pegs.
Greg Jennings
2008 The boys had done training camp before and enjoyed getting autographs and did some one-off bike rides, but always wanted to have regular rider. When a child gets chosen, they can ask the player if they want him to be a regular rider, thus the player will stay with the same child and not have to pick evey time. We were at a local bowling alley and Greg Jennings was there doing a commercial for the business and Brandon wanted to ask him to be a rider, but needed a lot of confidence building and after we said "what's the worse that can happen, he just says no", he got enough courage to go over. Greg was very nice and took time for pictures, but told Brandon that he had a bike rider, but if the kid doesn't show up he will pick him. Brandon of course didn't have much hope as who would give up on one of the best/well liked Packer players.On the first day of the 2008 Packers Training camp, the boy who had Greg Jennings as a rider the previous year was there, so he knew it was not going to work, however Greg informed Brandon that the kid dumped him for Jordy Nelson and he was his rider. It was a great year, Greg was so nice and friendly towards Brandon and even Adam was able to have some time with Greg.
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The one thing that is strange, at one time the three of us went the Packers Hall of Fame and in the Training Camp Bike Rider area is a video screen and the image they show for that particular event is Brandon riding with Greg Jennings. Went there some time later and he was still there.
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Adam Take Over the Reins
2009 The next year, Brandon decided he was done with bike riding, but Adam decided to take over and went to a book signing by Donald Driver and asked to be his rider and Donald agreed. He used an older bike that was not very safe and I am surprised they never crashed. Again, Adam had a great time and Donald was so nice to him even though Adam was so quiet. The main problem (that I still have a hard time with today) is that we had planned another Disney vacation before he unexpectedly got such a good player and Adam had to stop riding before training camp ended.
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2010 Adam took the year off and mainly did autographs.
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2011 He decided to get back in the game and was determined to get Randall Cobb. To help him out I made him a Cobb jersey using duct take to make the number 18 and name. Well it worked and Cobb picked him.
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2012 It James Jones turn.
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2013 Adam thought Jones was going to ride again but the first day rode with Adam but said he didn't want a regular rider, so he moved on to Andrew Quarless.
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2014 It was again Andrew Quarless
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2015 He was chosen by Ty Montgomery. Ty would be the only one to accept doing something outside of training camp (yes I asked every player). We chose to go the Longhorn Steakhouse and he brought along his then fiance Remy. The funny part, which everyone says is just wrong, I paid.
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2016 it was Trevor Davis (who was drafted one spot before Tyrek Hill) and probably the worst player Adam had as a rider.
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Davante Adams
2017 Adam showed up to training camp on a larger bike (players liked the larger bikes as it was difficult for these big football players to pedal a small kids bike) and a Davante Adams jersey. He got picked and it was an awesome time with a player of that caliber.
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2018 Adam had graduated from high school and was getting ready to attend UW Oshkosh in the fall, way too old and tall to ride a bike...RIGHT??? Well Davante had asked Adam to be his rider and who can deny Davante Adams request. So he rode for his last year, looking way to old. I'm sure the other kids were mad, but hey...again, who can deny Davante Adams.
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From the gallery
Pictures of Training Camp.
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